26 DECEMBER 2018 By Jennifer Marshall For most of us, the holiday season means sharing gifts, joy, laughter and delicious meals with family and friends. For many people in our community, though, Christmas is just another day to survive, hoping to find food and warmth. This December, when we volunteer our time and donate our money, we can help these families in our community enjoy the holidays a little bit more. To learn how you can help, check out the following charities. ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK firstfoodbank.org St. Mary’s Food Bank is the world’s first food bank. “We serve 250,000 meals a day through a network of about 600 agency partners,” said Jerry Brown, director of public relations for the Bank. St. Mary’s depends on both food and cash donations. Volunteers are needed to assemble the food boxes and assist those who pick up their meals, especially the elderly. THE PHOENIX RESCUE MISSION phoenixrescuemission.org The Phoenix Rescue Mission works to stop hunger and homelessness. Every year, it sponsors a Toy Drive to collect gifts for kids. On Saturday, December 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Mission will host its annual Winter Wonderland. This event allows parents to select Christmas gifts for their children, which are then wrapped by volunteers. “This makes gifting more of a personal experience,” said Nicole Peña, chief development officer for the Mission. Children are able to pick out presents for their parents too, and at the end of the festivities, families are given a food box containing a turkey and all the trimmings for a traditional Christmas dinner. Volunteers are needed to fill these boxes. THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL stvincentdepaul.net “Our goal is to feed, clothe, house and heal,” said Mary Chou-Thompson, the Society’s marketing director. From a central kitchen, volunteers prepare meals that are then allocated to its five dining rooms across the Valley, where more volunteers serve the hungry. It also runs the Adopt-A-Family program, which pairs families in need with volunteers who are responsible for providing these families with Christmas gifts and a holiday meal. PRINCE OF PEACE popphoenix.org/home Prince of Peace is a Lutheran Church that’s focused on community service. “We have various service projects every month,” said Audrey Cox, the church’s director of youth and family ministry. Prince of Peace sponsors two holiday drives. People adopt a child on an Angel Tree and purchase Christmas gifts for their little angel. The second program is operated in cooperation with Feed My Starving Children. Handmade Christmas ornaments from Swaziland are sold, and for every ornament purchased, Feed My Starving Children is able to prepare 45 more meals. All charities appreciate the help they receive during November and December, but the needs don’t disappear with the removal of the Christmas tree. When planning New Year’s resolutions, consider volunteering to help those in need. Hunger knows no date, so people who don’t have food are as hungry in March as they are in December. Volunteer to help those in need this holiday season The Phoenix Rescue Mission Turkey Drive. Desert Valley Pediatrics - Arcadia 4840 E. Indian School Rd, #100, Phoenix, AZ 85018 623-877-PEDS (7337) • www.dvpeds.com M – F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Phones open at 8:00 AM) We do prenatal meet and greets! SPECIALIZING IN: • Same Day Flu Shots • Newborns & Infants • Well Child Exams Arcadia QUALITY CARE • CONVENIENCE • REPUTATION Christopher Spiekerman, DO Ann Oland, MD Kristen Stanley, DO WE HAVE FLU SHOTS! @DVPedsAR Call now to schedule a same-day flu shot or sick visit. “Yinling” by Dalene Woodward mixed media on canvas 48” X 30” X 1.5” Representing students of Arizona universities, community colleges and high schools, as well as other emerging Arizona artists since 1993. 480.946.5076 artonegalleryinc.com 4130 n marshall way scottsdale CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

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